![A robotic leg [Image by Dr. Gopal U. Shinde].](/artificialbodym17-zone/files/2013/01/Robotic_Leg-155x300.jpg)
A robotic leg [Image by Dr. Gopal U. Shinde].
have been crafting artificial body parts since at least the days of Ancient Egypt! For most of our history the design and materials used to make body parts stayed much the same. Since the 20th century, however, engineers have greatly increased the variety and effectiveness of artificial body parts, using new materials and smarter design.
The six engineers in this zone work on the development of artificial body parts using different modern technologies. One makes artificial legs for people who have lost theirs, one studies the microbes in our mouths, and one uses new materials to find new ways to develop bone implants. One studies how to engineer groups of kidney cells, one uses a computer to investigate the movement of tiny bones and muscles in our foot, and another develops robotic arms for people who’ve lost their hands.